Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Dialysis Water Treatment and Quality 3

Question 1

When testing dialysis water conductivity, a sudden drop in conductivity of the RO product water suggests:

Accepted Answer

Possible membrane breakthrough

Answer

A sudden drop in conductivity of RO product water can paradoxically indicate membrane breakthrough as low-conductivity contaminants pass through.

Question 2

Which AAMI document provides the most current standards for water quality in hemodialysis?

Accepted Answer

AAMI RD62

Answer

AAMI RD62 is the primary standard governing water quality for hemodialysis, covering maximum allowable chemical and microbial contaminant levels.

Question 3

What does a hardness breakthrough in the water softener indicate?

Accepted Answer

The softener resin is exhausted and needs regeneration

Answer

Hardness breakthrough means the ion exchange resin is exhausted and calcium/magnesium ions are passing through, requiring immediate regeneration.

Question 4

Dialysis concentrate mixing ratios typically use which proportion of concentrate to water?

Accepted Answer

1:34 for bicarbonate, 1:44 for acid

Answer

Standard hemodialysis uses a 1:34 bicarbonate concentrate ratio and a 1:44 acid concentrate ratio to produce dialysate.

Question 5

Nitrate contamination in dialysis water is particularly dangerous because it causes:

Accepted Answer

Methemoglobinemia

Answer

High nitrate levels in dialysis water convert hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen, causing methemoglobinemia.

Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Practice Test